39 research outputs found
Roots of Perennial Grasses in the Recovery of Soils Degraded by Coal Mining in Southern Brazil
Revegetation of degraded soils is crucial to prevent erosion and improve soil structure and quality. We aimed to elucidate the role of the root system of grasses on the reclamation of a soil constructed after coal mining. In Candiota city, in Brazil, perennial grasses (Hemarthria, Paspalum, Cynodon, and Brizantha) were cultivated for 103 months, when soil samples were collected from 0.00–0.30 m layer. The root development of these species substantially decreased in depth, reflecting soil restrictive conditions, as high soil penetration resistance, especially below 0.10 m, assigned to the use of heavy machinery during soil construction. Below 0.10 m depth, fine and flattened roots were observed, which penetrated through the cracks of compacted soil layers. Regardless of the soil layer, all plant species had a greater proportion of roots 0.50 mm diameter class, averaged 92 and 8%, respectively. Below 0.10 m depth, Brizantha increased the proportion of roots >0.50 mm diameter class, while the other grasses increased the proportion of roots <0.49 mm diameter class. The highest root density, volume, and length observed for Brizantha along the soil profile indicate its high potential to improve physical attributes and therefore the quality of the constructed soil
Total organic carbon, total nitrogen and chemical characteristics of an haplic cambisol after biochar incorporation
Biochar
has
been
used
as
a
soil
conditioner
to
increase
the
soil
organic
carbon
content
and
to
improve
the
soil
chemical
characteristics.
However,
the
effect
of
biochar
on
soil
is
still
not
clear
and
the
soil
type
and
biochar
composition
should
also
play
an
important
role.
In
this
context,
the
main
objective
of
this
work
was
to
evaluate
the
effect
of
biochar
application
on
the
organic
carbon
(C)
content
and
on
chemical
characteristics
of
subtropical
Cambisol.
The
field
experiment
was
located
at
the
State
University
of
Centro
‐
Oeste
in
Irati,
Brazil,
and
the
soil
was
classified
as
an
Haplic
Cambisol
(Embrapa,
1999).
The
applied
biochar
was
composed
mainly
by
fine
residues
(
70%
<
2mm
)
of
an
eucalyptus
biochar
that
was
a
waste
of
the
local
steel
industry.
In
February
2010,
four
increasing
doses
of
biochar
were
applied
to
the
soil
(T1
‐
0
t
ha
‐
1
;
T2
‐
10
t
ha
‐
1
;
T3
‐
20
t
ha
‐
1
and
T4
‐
40
t
ha
‐
1
)
with
four
replicates.
Soil
samples
were
composed
by
three
subsamples
collected
within
each
plot.
Biochar
was
applied
on
the
soil
surface
and
thereafter
it
was
incorporated
into
a
0
‐
10
cm
soil
depth
with
an
harrow.
Soil
samples
were
collected
in
September
2011
at
four
soil
depths:
0
‐
5;
5
‐
10;
10
‐
20
and
20
‐
30
cm.
The
samples
were
air
dried
and
passed
through
a
2
mm
sieve.
Soil
C
and
nitrogen
(N)
contents
were
determined
by
dry
combustion
and
the
soil
characteristics
assessed
were:
pH
in
water,
available
P,
exchangeable
K,
Ca,
Mg
and
Al,
potential
acidity
(H
+
Al),
cation
exchange
capacity
(CEC),
effective
cation
exchange
capacity
(ECEC)
and
base
saturation
(V%)
(Tedesco
et
al.,
1995).
The
mean
values
were
compared
using
SAS
software
(Tukey
10%).
The
main
alterations
in
soil
characteristics
were
observed
in
the
superficial
depth
(0
‐
5
cm)
(Table
1)
probably
due
to
the
permanence
of
the
biochar
fine
particles
at
the
soil
surface.
In
this
layer,
the
application
of
40
t
ha
‐
1
of
biochar
(treatment
T4)
increased
in
15.5
g
kg
‐
1
the
C
content
in
comparison
to
treatment
T1.
The
treatments
T2
and
T3
also
increased
the
C
content,
but
the
differences
were
not
significant.
N
content
was
not
affected
by
biochar
application.
The
highest
dose
of
biochar
(treatment
T4)
promoted
an
increase
of
the
C/N
ratio
from
12
to
16
at
the
0
‐
5
cm
depth.
Treatment
T4
also
increased
the
soil
pH
value
in
comparison
to
treatment
T1.
In
addition,
the
contents
of
available
P,
exchangeable
K
and
Ca
where
higher
under
treatment
T4
in
comparison
to
treatment
T1
(Table
1).
In
opposition,
exchangeable
Mg
content,
Al+H,
V%
and
CEC
were
not
altered
by
any
treatment,
but
T4
increased
the
ECEC
in
3.1
cmol
c
dm
‐
3
in
comparison
to
T1.
The
results
observed
are
probably
due
the
high
C
and
ash
(26,5%)
contents
of
biochar.
A
contribution
of
the
functional
groups
on
the
surface
of
the
biochar
to
the
ECEC
should
not
be
excluded
(Sparkes
&
Stoutjesdijk,
2011).
Our
results
indicate
that
after
two
years
of
biochar
application
an
increase
of
soil
organic
carbon
and
a
positive
impact
on
the
soil
chemical
characteristics
at
the
soil
surface
were
attained,
but
only
with
the
highest
tested
dose
(40
t
ha
‐
1
)
.Peer reviewe
CRESCIMENTO INICIAL DE ACÁCIA-NEGRA COM VERMICOMPOSTOS DE DIFERENTES RESÍDUOS AGROINDUSTRIAIS
http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509821060The use of vermicompost as organic compounds of different agro-industrial wastes in the production of Acacia mearnsii seedlings can be an alternative of reusing waste and increase of seedlings production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth and nutrient concentration in Acacia mearnsii seedlings grown in different soils and vermicomposts of different organic wastes. Also, the effects on soil chemical properties were evaluated. So, different treatments were applied: T1) vermicompost of bovine manure (EB); T2) vermicompost of ovine manure (EO); T3) vermicompost of rice parboiled waste (LP); T4) Control (without amendment); T5) Control with mineral amendment; T6) mixture of EB and LP; T7) mixture of EO and LP; T8) mixture of EB and vermicompost of food wastes (RA); T9) mixture of EO and RA; T10) mixture of EB and vermicompost of fruits wastes (RF); T11) mixture of EO and RF. After 180 days of growth, it was analyzed the dry mass and nutrient concentration in shoots and the concentration of nutrients in the soil after cultivation. The addition of EB, as well as the mixture of EB and RA promoted the increase on dry matter. The results showed that the concentrations of nutrients in plants, with the exception of Fe, Mn varied with the addition of vermicompost in the soil. Treatments T3 and T6 increased the concentrations of P, N, Zn, Cu in leaves of Acacia mearnsii. Furthermore, the addition of vermicompost to soil increased the availability of nutrients to plants, even after cultivation, especially the phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, and it is a viable and effective in producing Acacia mearnsii seedlings and might replace the use of mineral fertilizers.http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509821060A utilização de vermicompostos de diferentes resíduos agroindustriais na produção de mudas de acácia-negra pode ser uma alternativa de reutilização de resíduos e aumentar a produção de mudas. Assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar o crescimento e a concentração de nutrientes em mudas de acácia-negra, cultivadas em substratos com diferentes vermicompostos de resíduos orgânicos agroindustriais. Instalou-se em casa de vegetação 11 diferentes tratamentos: T1) vermicomposto de esterco bovino (EB); T2) vermicomposto de esterco ovino (EO); T3) vermicomposto de lodo de parbolização de arroz (LP); T4) tratamento controle (sem adubação); T5) tratamento controle com adução mineral (NPK); T6) mistura de EB e LP; T7) mistura de EO e LP; T8) mistura de EB e vermicomposto de resíduos de alimentos (RA); T9) mistura de EO e RA; T10) mistura de EB e vermicomposto de resíduos de frutas (RF); T11) mistura de EO e RF. Após 180 dias de cultivo em recipiente com capacidade de cinco litros, foram analisadas a massa seca e a concentração de nutrientes na parte aérea da acácia-negra, e a concentração de nutrientes no solo, após o cultivo. A adição do esterco bovino, bem como a mistura de esterco bovino e resíduos alimentícios favoreceram o incremento de matéria seca das plantas de acácia-negra. Os resultados mostraram que as concentrações de nutrientes nas plantas, com exceção de Fe e Mn, variaram com adição de vermicompostos no solo. Os tratamentos T3 e T6 elevaram as concentrações em P, N, Zn de Cu nas folhas de acácia-negra. Além disso, a adição dos vermicompostos ao solo aumentou a disponibilidade de nutrientes para as plantas, mesmo após o cultivo, especialmente com relação ao fósforo, potássio e magnésio, sendo uma alternativa viável e eficaz na produção de mudas, podendo substituir a utilização de adubação mineral
Acacia and Eucalyptus plantations modify the molecular composition of density organic matter fractions of subtropical native pasture soils
14 Páginas.-- 3 Figuras.-- 5 Tablas.-- Material suplementarioIn Southern Brazil, exotic species as Acacia (A) and Eucalyptus (E) are often planted over native pasturelands and may change bulk soil organic matter (SOM) composition as verified in our previous study with Cambisols (0–5 cm). Here we aimed to follow the impact of seven-year A and E plantation on the composition of the free light- (FLF), occluded light- (OLF) and heavy fraction (HF) of SOM along the soil profile. We hypothesized that A and E may have shifted the molecular composition and carbon (C) stocks (Cs) of SOM fractions, at least at 0–5 cm; with stronger shifts caused by A due to greater E litter recalcitrance. Litter and soil samples (0–20 cm) were collected at A and E and neighboring native pasturelands without A (WA) and without E (WE). Litter, FLF, OLF and HF samples were subjected to C, nitrogen (N), pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and lipid biomarkers analysis. In E soil, the Cs of FLF at 0–5 cm (0.5 Mg ha−1) and OLF at 5–10 cm (1.7 Mg ha−1) were 194 and 70 % greater than in WE, whereas in A soil the Cs of OLF at 0–5 cm (0.2 Mg ha−1) was 44 % lower than in WA. Nevertheless, A changed more remarkably the composition of SOM fractions, confirming our hypothesis partially, likely due to greater A litter biodegradability (polysaccharides abundance) compared to E. The contribution of A litter to FLF (0–10 cm) was evidenced by abundance of long chain and the predominance of odd-over-even n-alkanes (particularly >C29), and to OLF (0–20 cm) by the greatest abundance of n-alkanes at C31, resembling A litter. Loss of C and N of OLF in A compared to WA (0–5 cm) was compensated by fresh A litter additions to FLF and OLF and microbial-derived compounds association to soil minerals, equaling soil Cs in A and WA. The lower soil N stock in A compared to WA likely resulted from depletion of occluded microbial-derived N-compounds, supposedly reflecting the breakdown of soil aggregates at forest plantation. The increase of Cs in FLF and OLF of E compared to WE soil was associated with increased abundance of aromatics and n-alkane/alkenes and decrease of fatty acids. Similar patterns of n-alkanes observed for OLF of E and WE soil confirmed the incipient contribution of E litter to OLF. Conversion of these pastures to A and E modifies SOM composition and protection, requiring policies in view of the highly invasive potential and possible negative implications of A and E to native pasture regeneration.This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.Peer reviewe
Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research
Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4
While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge
of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In
the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of
Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus
crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced
environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian
Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by
2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status,
much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio